Hot summer weather combined with two long weekends coming up, means many people are thinking about working outside on their properties. They need to consider overhead power lines, especially if they are using ladders, or long tools like branch loppers.

This includes house and roof painting, tree trimming and general property tidy-ups. Please double check how close you are to the power lines when working outside. Summer is also a time when boat owners head out on the water.

Electricity can arc or leap across objects like boat masts if they get too close to power lines. If someone then touches the boat, trailer or vehicle towing it, they could receive a serious, if not fatal, electric shock.

  • Watch overhead when boating. Masts, fishing poles, or tall radio antennae could contact overhead lines
  • Call your electricity retailer before using a ladder close to lines to arrange a disconnection. We can then turn the power off to the lines near your house making it safer to do work near them.
  • If you are using a ladder near power lines, keep yourself, the ladder and anything you are handling at least four metres away from overhead power lines.
  • Use a licensed electrical worker for all electrical repairs.

Network summary for week ending 24 January 2016

Electricity

Car v pole incidents were down this week - crews attended one car v pole accident in Favona and a car v pillar accident in Flat Bush during the week.

However, house and building fires kept crews busy - with five dealt with.

They occurred in Albany, Clendon Park, Glen Innes and on Waiheke Island.

Gas

Damage was caused to our networks by third parties in Gisborne, Hamilton, Morrinsville and Auckland.

Vector Limited issued this content on 2016-01-24 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-25 08:38:05 UTC

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